Owner feedback on the new leaf
Discussion
I'm looking at potentially getting a new leaf for my commute and have booked a test drive this weekend..
Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
shavermcspud said:
I'm looking at potentially getting a new leaf for my commute and have booked a test drive this weekend..
Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
I'd pose the question over at SpeakEV.Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
From an outsider point of view, the Leaf 40kWh has issues with consecutive rapid charges. This is due to the battery having no active thermal management. It's strongly rumoured that the 60kWh battery model due later this year will have active thermal management.
shavermcspud said:
I'm looking at potentially getting a new leaf for my commute and have booked a test drive this weekend..
Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
Borrowed one for an extended 72-hour test drive the other month.Do any of you own one and can give me some feedback on actual range for mixed driving,costs any quirks or issues/problems you have faced.
Coming from a Nissan GTR this will be a slight change of direction but should show some huge fuel savings for my commute roughly 44 miles per day.
Cheers
Initial thoughts are it drove well enough. The dashboard takes some getting use to. Could easily get 120+ real world miles out of it including a mix of 60mph a-road / 70-75mph motorway mileage on my 75 mile round trip commute. You can only fast charge it one time a day, the second time you plug it into a rapid it'll charge slower (I guess this is a cooling/battery life action).
The car bonged at nearly everything.
Apple CarPlay in the car was very good. Stock stereo is not worth bothering with. Stock base model interior the seats weren't that great.
When Nissan corporate called me for feedback on the test drive they did say a Nismo model is coming out in Q1/Q2 2019 and also a bigger capacity battery model.
Yep, speakev has lots of real-world feedback - https://www.speakev.com/forums/nissan-leaf40.273/ . Not an owner but strongly considering one too.
The rapid charging issue is a bit complicated, but then so are long motorway trips in an EV. People can and do make really long trips in them. Equally it does need a bit more thought than filling with diesel and setting the cruise to 80. The Leaf adds managing the battery temperature to the other factors of range, charge time, etc.
The rapid charging issue is a bit complicated, but then so are long motorway trips in an EV. People can and do make really long trips in them. Equally it does need a bit more thought than filling with diesel and setting the cruise to 80. The Leaf adds managing the battery temperature to the other factors of range, charge time, etc.
sjg said:
Yep, speakev has lots of real-world feedback - https://www.speakev.com/forums/nissan-leaf40.273/ . Not an owner but strongly considering one too.
The rapid charging issue is a bit complicated, but then so are long motorway trips in an EV. People can and do make really long trips in them. Equally it does need a bit more thought than filling with diesel and setting the cruise to 80. The Leaf adds managing the battery temperature to the other factors of range, charge time, etc.
From a personal position I'd never get a 40kWh Leaf because the added thermal issues would make it too much stress to do a longer journey.The rapid charging issue is a bit complicated, but then so are long motorway trips in an EV. People can and do make really long trips in them. Equally it does need a bit more thought than filling with diesel and setting the cruise to 80. The Leaf adds managing the battery temperature to the other factors of range, charge time, etc.
It all depends though, doesn't it. Most of what I'd call "longer journeys" are still sub-200 miles. If you're starting from full, that should mean one rapid charge along the way, assuming I can charge slowly once I arrive. No problem there.
The problem with longer is just that it takes a bit more time charging if the battery gets hot. A possible 300 or 400 mile day I wouldn't be planning to do anything else but drive (and stop for breaks/meals) anyway. The difference between a Leaf 40 and something else that cooled better would be an hour or so on an already long day. I'd live with that sort of compromise for a once or twice a year (if that) trip. Other people may not, and they may need to look elsewhere.
If long, high-speed journeys are a frequent thing then EVs mean compromises (and possible stress) anyway. You will be needing to stop and charge, and you are likely to start balancing driving speed against range - maybe cruising at 60 not 70 as it means you can go further between charges. You'll hopefully have a plan B in mind if you get to a planned stop and chargers are full or broken. I heard someone describe it not as range anxiety but just as time anxiety - you're very unlikely to get totally stranded and need a flatbed home, but journeys may need more time than you expect.
If I was needing to do London up to Scotland regularly (as some friends do who have family to visit) then it would have to be a Tesla (with their fairly reliable and fast charging network) or an ICE car for me. Other EVs just wouldn't cut it.
The problem with longer is just that it takes a bit more time charging if the battery gets hot. A possible 300 or 400 mile day I wouldn't be planning to do anything else but drive (and stop for breaks/meals) anyway. The difference between a Leaf 40 and something else that cooled better would be an hour or so on an already long day. I'd live with that sort of compromise for a once or twice a year (if that) trip. Other people may not, and they may need to look elsewhere.
If long, high-speed journeys are a frequent thing then EVs mean compromises (and possible stress) anyway. You will be needing to stop and charge, and you are likely to start balancing driving speed against range - maybe cruising at 60 not 70 as it means you can go further between charges. You'll hopefully have a plan B in mind if you get to a planned stop and chargers are full or broken. I heard someone describe it not as range anxiety but just as time anxiety - you're very unlikely to get totally stranded and need a flatbed home, but journeys may need more time than you expect.
If I was needing to do London up to Scotland regularly (as some friends do who have family to visit) then it would have to be a Tesla (with their fairly reliable and fast charging network) or an ICE car for me. Other EVs just wouldn't cut it.
Many thanks for all the feedback.
As per my initial post my daily mileage will be around 44 miles with the occasional of maybe 70 miles tops and plug in at the office during the day to recharge.
I wasn't aware of thermal issues/multiple quick charges in any of the reviews I have read online so that's really something to consider.
Ideally I would like to wait for a larger capacity 60Kw or even a Nismo to compliment my weekend car but I have less than a month to make a decision due to our current business lease Volvo going back.
Unfortunately a Tesla is out of my budget and a Hybrid doesn't seem to fill the requirements for the majority of the motorway driving I do and going zero emissions/fully electric is my plan.
I do still have a 520d estate for longer journeys with the family that the wife is going to use and the GTR for weekends.
Any other recommendations for EV's?
As per my initial post my daily mileage will be around 44 miles with the occasional of maybe 70 miles tops and plug in at the office during the day to recharge.
I wasn't aware of thermal issues/multiple quick charges in any of the reviews I have read online so that's really something to consider.
Ideally I would like to wait for a larger capacity 60Kw or even a Nismo to compliment my weekend car but I have less than a month to make a decision due to our current business lease Volvo going back.
Unfortunately a Tesla is out of my budget and a Hybrid doesn't seem to fill the requirements for the majority of the motorway driving I do and going zero emissions/fully electric is my plan.
I do still have a 520d estate for longer journeys with the family that the wife is going to use and the GTR for weekends.
Any other recommendations for EV's?
Hyundai Kona EV https://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/kona-electric would be one I'd look at.
Golf EV? that'd just about suit your range.
Or a 94aH BMW i3
Golf EV? that'd just about suit your range.
Or a 94aH BMW i3
Just wanted to update.
I took the leaf out last Saturday 8th and arranged an extended test drive for the day on my own and collected this morning (14th) so I could test in real my real world drive to work, pick kids up from school etc.
Got to say I love it, I like the torque, quietness??? comfort and decent range even with mixed heavy right foot.
I picked it up with 85% charge from Gyln Hopkins of Bedford) drove to work 29~ miles, did a few customer visits, and finished up 120 miles later with 90 miles left on the range., my wife then drove it tonight and also loves it.
The E-Pedal is a wonder of technology and took some getting used to, but its a whole new level of driving.
Taking it back tomorrow and placing my order.
Great car all round for my needs 90% of the time.
Compliments the other Nissan.
I took the leaf out last Saturday 8th and arranged an extended test drive for the day on my own and collected this morning (14th) so I could test in real my real world drive to work, pick kids up from school etc.
Got to say I love it, I like the torque, quietness??? comfort and decent range even with mixed heavy right foot.
I picked it up with 85% charge from Gyln Hopkins of Bedford) drove to work 29~ miles, did a few customer visits, and finished up 120 miles later with 90 miles left on the range., my wife then drove it tonight and also loves it.
The E-Pedal is a wonder of technology and took some getting used to, but its a whole new level of driving.
Taking it back tomorrow and placing my order.
Great car all round for my needs 90% of the time.
Compliments the other Nissan.
shavermcspud said:
Just wanted to update.
I took the leaf out last Saturday 8th and arranged an extended test drive for the day on my own and collected this morning (14th) so I could test in real my real world drive to work, pick kids up from school etc.
Got to say I love it, I like the torque, quietness??? comfort and decent range even with mixed heavy right foot.
I picked it up with 85% charge from Gyln Hopkins of Bedford) drove to work 29~ miles, did a few customer visits, and finished up 120 miles later with 90 miles left on the range., my wife then drove it tonight and also loves it.
The E-Pedal is a wonder of technology and took some getting used to, but its a whole new level of driving.
Taking it back tomorrow and placing my order.
Great car all round for my needs 90% of the time.
Compliments the other Nissan.
Sounds good mate, I’m assuming you charged up at some point if you did 120 miles and 90 left starting on 85%?I took the leaf out last Saturday 8th and arranged an extended test drive for the day on my own and collected this morning (14th) so I could test in real my real world drive to work, pick kids up from school etc.
Got to say I love it, I like the torque, quietness??? comfort and decent range even with mixed heavy right foot.
I picked it up with 85% charge from Gyln Hopkins of Bedford) drove to work 29~ miles, did a few customer visits, and finished up 120 miles later with 90 miles left on the range., my wife then drove it tonight and also loves it.
The E-Pedal is a wonder of technology and took some getting used to, but its a whole new level of driving.
Taking it back tomorrow and placing my order.
Great car all round for my needs 90% of the time.
Compliments the other Nissan.
There are rumours next year will see a bigger battery and active cooling if you can wait a while but it might be a fairly lengthy wait.
Any idea which trim level you fancy? As for the Kona suggested, they are pretty small especially compared to the Leaf
. I have a feeling the new leaf leaf deals are £350/400 a mth.
To me getting an ev was always a financial exercise. I bet a 2017 40 kWh leaf would be £200 mth. You’d easily get 120 miles a day on a charge in the depth of winter, using every electrical device.
By way of reckoning, to drive 8000 miles, home charging has cost us £233 in 12 mths.
To me getting an ev was always a financial exercise. I bet a 2017 40 kWh leaf would be £200 mth. You’d easily get 120 miles a day on a charge in the depth of winter, using every electrical device.
By way of reckoning, to drive 8000 miles, home charging has cost us £233 in 12 mths.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff